The Veteran's bilateral foot disability (manifested as plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, and hallux valgus) is service-connected. Bilateral hearing loss is not service-connected.

The deciding factor: The evidence supports a direct relationship between the Veteran's active-duty service and his bilateral foot disability but does not support a current disability for VA compensation purposes in relation to his bilateral hearing loss.

Claimed conditions

bilateral foot disability (manifested as plantar fasciitis, hammertoes, and hallux valgus), bilateral hearing loss, bilateral shoulder disability, cervical spine disability, to include degenerative arthritis, scars of the face and neck, sleep disorder, to include as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), residuals of surgery to the inguinal region, to include as secondary to hernia and a skin condition, dental condition, to include a jaw condition

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

100%

Decision date

November 18, 2025

Citation

25014085

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine